Sheet delivery mechanism



Sept. '3, 19.46. A. B. wooDRu F SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed June 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 BMW 0W WMW. Mp .mw W VmwJ I00 m u Sept.'3, 1946. A. B..'WOODRUFF SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed June13, 1945 5 She etS-Sheet'2 T Rwmfimr .1 W MN v 6. MN 4.2T E 4 mm M v aw H mm mm u m 4/ Q T H. .w -NU m W mm s a 3 "l I i l I I I o I II I l f l wm Wong Kg 3 E Sept. 3, 1 946.

4 A. B. WOODRUFF 2,406,936 SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed June 1:5, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Arthur B. woodv-wif mvam ola Wm/4W4 AGENT proposed. For example, presses Patented Sept. 3, 1946 SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM Arthur B. Woodruff, Brecksville, Ohio, assignor to Harris-Seybold Company, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Serial No. 412,390, September 26, 1941. This application June 13, 1945, Serial No. 599,151

Claims. 1

In the operation of printing presses equipped with mechanism for accumulating the sheets in a pile at the delivery end of the machine, it is usually necessary to shut the press down while the platform carrying an accumulated pile of sheets is removed, an empty platform'is inserted and the automatic piling and platform lowering devices are adjusted to begin the stacking of a new pile.

With the advent of modern high speed rotary presses the frequency with which the operation has to be performed and the loss of production for a given length of shut down time has increased. Furthermore when thick stock such as cardboard is being printed changes are still more frequent and the loss is thus further accentuated.

Various solutions to this problem have been have been equipped with two full sized pile delivery mechanisms placed in line and equipped with controls permitting the depositing of sheets on either platform while the other with its pile of sheets is being removed and replaced by an empty platform. This arrangement is objectionable because of the large amount of floor space required and the high cost of constructing what amounts to two complete delivery mechanisms.

In another arrangement a temporary platform is inserted above the accumulated pile in position to receive a relatively small number of sheets while the main platform is being changed, the temporary platform then being withdrawn leaving its pile of sheets on the main platform. This arrangement has not been satisfactory because of the difficulty of inserting and removing the temporary platform quickly while the machine is running and because the mechanism required interferes with convenient operation of the main pile mechanism.

It'is an object of this invention to provide a delivery arrangement for a printing press or other machine which will permit continuous operation of the machine and will be free of the above disadvantages and convenient and efiicient in operation.

Another object is to provide delivery means for a printing press which will provide two selectively operable sheet delivery mechanisms in the same fioor space as is ordinarily required for a press having only. one such mechanism. Another object is to provide a printing press wherein the space between the main sheet delivery and the nearest printing unit is utilized both as a working space and as a space for the accumulation of sheets while the main delivery platform is being removed and replaced.

Another object is to provide an auxiliary sheet delivery device for a printing press which can be placed into and out of operation quickly and efficiently while the press is running.

The invention has been illustrated in connection with a rotary offset lithographic printing press. In the figures Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a part of a lithographic press constructed according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of Fig. 1 showing the auxiliary delivery. mechanism in greater detail; the parts being in position to cause sheets to be deposited on the auxiliary platform.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in position to permit the sheets to be conveyed to the main delivery platform.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the auxiliary delivery mechanism corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, I0 is the base of a printing press resting on the floor. Side frames ll, l2, which are secured to base l0 support a lithographic printing unit comprising impression cylinder l3, blanket cylinder l4, plate cylinder l5, form inking rollers 16, and dampening rollers ll. Impression cylinder I3 is equipped with sheet grippers l8 which are arranged and operated to open and close at proper times in known manner. Sheets are fed to impression cylinder l3 by a transfer cylinder l9 which receives them from any suitable source such as a preceding printing unit if the press is a multicolor press. It is to be understood, however, that the cylinders l3, l4, l5 may be the cylinders of a single color press, in which case cylinder l3 would receive sheets from suitable sheet feeding mechanism.

Frames ll, l2 also support a driven shaft 20 to which are keyed two sprockets 2|, one at each side of the press, which drive a sheet delivery conveyor, later described, in the usual manner known in printing presses. Driving means of any known or preferred kind, not shown, are provided for rotating the cylinders in the directions indicated and for rotating shaft 26 for driving the conveyor.

The main pile delivery mechanism is supported by lower delivery side frames 22, 23, upper delivery side frames 24, 25, and legs 26, 21, all of which parts are secured to each other and to cross support members, not shown, in known manner to form a rigid supporting framework.

This main delivery mechanism is spaced from the printing unit previously mentioned by a disthe traveling sets of grippers.

tance suitable to provide the working space which is required at times by the operator in performing his duties incident to operation of the press, and to provide space for the auxiliary pile delivery mechanism subsequently to be described. Delivery frames 22, 23 are joined to and spaced properly from press frames II, I2 by coupling frame members 28, 29 secured to the delivery frames by bolts 39 and to the press frames by bolts 3| and tie rod 32.

Frame members 28, 29 are formed with upward projections 33 which serve to support a work platform 34 having angle iron cleats 35. The platform 34 extends across the press between frames and is arranged at such height that the operator may conveniently reach the parts of the printing unit such as the inking mechanism, the plate cylinder I5, and blanket cylinder I4, which he must work upon during operation of the press.

The conveyor by which sheets are conveyed from impression cylinder I3 to the main pile delivery mechanism comprises a pair of endless parallel chains 36, 31, which support at intervals corresponding to the circumference of cylinder I3 a plurality of sets of grippers 38 (Fig. 1) for grasping the forward edges of the sheets. Each of these sets of grippers comprises a plurality of fingers 39 which are supported upon an oscillatable shaft 49 and a like number of abutment 4I carried by a fixed shaft 42. The shafts 49 and 42 are supported at their ends by brackets 43 each of which is supported at two points by the corresponding chain 36 or 31. Spring means, not shown, are provided tending to turn shaft 49 in the direction to close fingers 39 on their abut- .ments. Keyed to shaft 49 is a lever 44 which carries a cam follower roller 45 for the purpose of opening the gripper fingers 39 against the aforementioned spring means.

The chains 36, 31 carrying the sets of grippers just described travel around sprockets 2|, thence around sprockets 46, 41 suitably supported by frames 22, 23 thence around sprockets or wheels 48 which are supported on a shaft 49 fixed in frames 24, 25. In traveling back toward the press thesechains pass around idler wheels 59 and which are suitably supported on studs in frames '22, 23. Along the lower run of chains '38, 31

tracks 52, 53 are provided along the upper edges 'of whichthe chains run. These tracks are secured to frames II, I2 by brackets 54 and to frames 22, 23 by brackets 55. Other tracks, not

shown, are provided where needed to support the chains.

Mechanism of known construction is provided for causing the sheets to be released by the sets of grippers 38 and to be deposited in the form of a relatively high main pile-of sheets 56. such mechanism comprises a bracket 51 supported upon tie rod 58 and shaft 49 and carryinga gripper opening cam 59 located in proper position to engage each of the rollers 45 associated with Cam 59 functions to open gripper fingers 39 at the proper time to cause the sheets to drop on pile 56. This action is facilitated by the usual stripper fingers 69 and end stakes 6I.

The pile 58 is formed upon a main delivery platform 62 which is provided with legs 93 and is supported on cross beams 64 extending across the .press and resting at their ends upon lift bars 65. Each of the latter bars is raisedand lowered by a pair of cables 66, 61 having .hooks 68 at their lowerends for engaging pins 69 in the bars 65. The rear cables 66 extend upward, around sheaves 19, then toward the press and around sheaves H and downward to drums 12 keyed to the automatic power driven pile lowering shaft 13 journaled in frames 22, 23. The front cables 61 extend upward andpartly around sheaves II and thence downward and around drums 12. Known means not shown are provided for automatically gradually rotating shaft 13 to cause platform 62 to lower at the proper rate to accommodate the accumulation of sheets in the pile 56. Further description is deemed unnecessary since such mechanism is well known in the art.

It is to be noted that the various parts, including the printing unit, the press frames, delivery frames, coupling members 28, 29, platform 34, and the sheet conveyor supports have been so arranged as to provide a space below the lower run of the conveyor and between the press and delivery frames. In this space an auxiliary delivery platform 1.4 is provided for receiving sheets from the conveyor during the time a full main platform 62 is being removed and replaced by an empty platform, thus allowing continuous operation of the press.

Auxiliary platform 14 is equipped with four wheels or casters 15 carried in brackets 16 secured to the platform and the casters .15 are guided between rails 11 bolted to the floor. Platform 14 is provided with side wall members 18, 19 supported on brackets 89, 9I which may be adjusted to accommodate different widths of sheets by sliding the same along grooves 82 and clamping by means of thumb screws 83. Each of the side wall members 18, I9 has adjustably clamped thereto an end wall member 84 supported by an iron brace 85 one portion of which slides in a groove 86 in the corresponding side wall member 18 or I9. Brace 85 also has integral therewith a threaded stud 81 which extends through slot 88 and carries a wing nut 89 for tightening the members 84 in various positions to accommodate sheets of different lengths.

Platform I4 is arranged to occupy a position adjacent to a vertical plate 99 having cleats 9I whichare fastened at their lower ends to a square cross bar 92 secured by bolts 93 in frames 22 and 23 and at their upper ends to brackets 94 which loosely embrace a shaft 95 rotatably journaled in the delivery side frames 22, 23. Plate 99 forms an end wall for the platform 14 when the latter is in operative position and, in conjunction with side wall members 18, I9 and end wall members 89, forms a box like structure for receiving sheets and forming them into a pile as they are deposited by the sheet conveyor.

To selectively control the deposition of sheets on the platform 14 mechanism is provided which will now be described. Below the delivery conveyor drive shaft 29 is a cross support bar 96 secured by bolts 91 to frames II, I2. This bar has a pair of brackets 98 secured thereto by bolts 99 and these brackets carry a rotatable shaft I99 and a non-rotatable round bar 'I9'I. On shaft I99 are keyed two tape drums I92 each carrying a pin I93 to which one end of a torsion spring I94 is secured, the other end of the spring being secured to a pin I95 in bracket 98. Additional tape drum in any desired number are also provided, of which one is shown at I96. Springs I94 are arranged to tend to turn shaft I99 in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

Each of the drums I92, I96 has secured thereto one end ofa tape I91 of suitable length which is trained partly around bar IIlI and thence toward the delivery platforms to a bodily movable square cross bar I08 to which it isfastened. by screw I09. The ends of bar I88 are turned down to form necks III] which slidably fit into slots III in guide bars H2 one of i which is fastened to chain track 52 and. one to track 53 by bolts II I3. Near each end of bar I88 is a hole through which extends a cable II4 having an enlarged end 'I I5 which prevents the cable from passing through the hole in one direction. These cables extend toward theleft in the figures, pass partly around groovedidler wheels IIB on shaft 95 and thence aroundgrooved winding drums II! to which the ends of the cables are attached.

The drums II! are keyed to a shaft H3 which is rotatably journaled in frames 22, 23 and is held against endwise movement by collar I I9 and a small gear I29 keyed to the shaft. The hub of each of the drums Ill carries a pin I22 to which is secured one end of atorsion spring. I23 surrounding shaft H8, the other end of the spring being secured to a pin I24 in the corresponding frame 22 or 23, The action of the springs I23 is to tend to rotate shaft I I8 counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 to 3 thus tending to wind cables I I4 around drums III.

Onrthe outside of frame 22 a bracket I25 is fastened to the frame by bolts E26. This bracket supports a rotatable stub shaft IZI to the inner end of which is keyed a large gear I28 whose teeth mesh with the small gear E28 secured to shaft II8. To the outer end of stub shaft I2! is keyed a lever I29 to which is pivotably connected one end of a link I30 whose other end extends through a pin I3I pivotably mounted in hand lever I32, Nuts I33 are provided to adjustably secure link I30 to pin I3I and lever I32 is provided with a handle I34.

Lever I32 is keyed to a shaft I35 which is rotatably journaled in frames 22, 23 and has secured thereto a bifurcated lever I 36 which pivotally carries between its bifurcations on pin I31 a link I38. Lever I33 is formed'with a projecting abutment 539. which is adapted to engage abutment I48 of link'I38 to limit movement of the lever I36 and shaft I35 in one direction when lever I36 and link I38 are substantially in alignment with each other.

The other end of link I38 is provided with a rotatable stud I4! having a shoulder portion I42 and a reduced extension I43 which extends through slot I44 in a bracket I45 which is pivotally mounted On tie rod I48 supported in frames 22, 23, Extension I43 of pin I4! is threaded and carries a washer I41 and clamping nut I48 by which bracket I45 is clamped against shoulder I42 of pin I4I. By means of the slot and clamping arrangement just described the operative position of bracket I45 may be adjusted to suit conditions. A cam I49 is secured to bracket I45 by screws I59 and the parts are so arranged that cam I49 lies in the path of travel of the cam rollers 45 by which the gripper fingers 39 may be opened. As shown in Fig. 2 the cam I49 is in operative position and will function to open each set of grippers as it passes the cam.

Hand lever I32 carries a second stud I5l which pivotally supports one end of a link I52 the other end of which passes through noddle pin I53 and is adjustably clamped thereto by nuts I54. Noddle pin I53 is pivotally held by a lever. I55 which is keyed to shaft 95. Secured on shaft 95 at positions corresponding to the spaces between grippers 39 are stripper fingers I56, any desired number of which may be provided, and two of which are illustrated in the drawings. jThese fingers overlie the platform I4 and are arranged when in operative position to lie abovea sheet held by the grippers 39 and below the shafts 49 and 42. They are also provided with abutments I51 against which the sheets may strike when released from the grippersand before settling onto platform I4. 1

The movement of shaft in the. clockwise direction is limited by an adjustable stop comprising a screw I58 in stud I59 which is fixed in frame 22.

The parts described above are arranged to occupy operative and inoperative positions shown respectively in Figs. 2 and 3.

If it is desired to move the parts from operative to inoperative position the hand lever I32 is moved counterclockwise until lever I55 strikes stop I58. This movement results in a partial rotation of shaft 535 and a corresponding shortening of lever and link connection #36, i38 sufficient to raise cam. I49 out of engagement with any of the rollers 45, thereby permitting the sheets to be carried past platform M. This movement of hand lever I32 simultaneously causes partial rotation of shaft 95 through the link and lever connection I52, I55 thereby lowering stripper fingers I58 below the sheet path. At the same time link i3l and lever I29 impart a partial rotation to large gear I28 which, acting through small gear I28 and shaft IIB causes counterclockwise rotation of drums III thereby winding up a part of the cables H4 and moving bar I98 and tapes I87 into the dotted line position of Fig. 4 where they support the sheets in their travel over the platform I4.

If it is desired to move the parts from inoperative to operative position the hand lever I32 is moved clockwise until abutment I39 of lever I39 strikes abutment I49 of link I38. This movement is transmitted in the reverse direction through the connections just mentioned to cause cam I49 to open grippers 39, stripper fingers I56 to strip the sheets from the grippers, and tapes I9! to be withdrawn away from sheet supporting position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

When it is desired to remove a pile of delivered sheets from the machine without stopping the latter the operator moves hand lever I32 quickly to its Fig. 2 position choosing such a time in the press cycle as is required to cause the cam I49, stripper fingers I56 and tapes ID! to move into proper position after the leading edge of one sheet has passed the stripper fingers and before the leading edge of the next sheet reaches these fingers. Thereafter all subsequent sheets will be deposited upon the auxiliary platform I4. As soon as all sheets not deposited on platform I4 have been deposited in pile 5B the platform 52 is lowered to the floor and removed from the press in the usual way. An empty platform is then placed in the press and the cables 6E, 61 are drawn up to raise the platform into sheet receiving position. When the main delivery is thus made ready for a new pile, the operator moves lever I32 quickly back to its Fig. 3 position again choosing a proper time in the cycle of the machine. Platiorm I4 is then withdrawn from the machine on its wheels I5, the accumulated sheets are removed, and the emptied platform replaced in position ready for use the next time a main pile is to be removed.

The main delivery gripper opening cam 59 preferably remains always in operative position as shown so that whenever a sheet is conveyed to the high level of the conveyor it is deposited on the main platform. At other times the grippers merely open'and close without depositing sheets.

This application is a continuation of applicants original application, Ser. No. 412,390, filed Sept. 26, 1941.

The invention is not to be restricted to the details of construction shown but is defined by the following claims:

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a sheet conveyor comprising a plurality of sets of sheet grippers, a first delivery platform, means for opening said grippers to deposit sheets on said first delivery platform, a second delivery platform, and means for depositing sheets on said second delivery platform o permitting conveyance of sheets to said first delivery platform according to the desire of the press operator, said last-mentioned means comprising a cam for opening said grippers, sheet supporting means adapted to occupy a position over said second platform to support sheets in their passage thereover, and connections enabling said cam and sheet supporting means to be placed into or out of position for depositing sheets on said second platform.

2. In a machine of the class described, a sheet conveyor comprising a plurality of sets of sheet grippers, a first delivery platform, means for opening said grippers to deposit sheets on said first delivery platform, a second delivery platform, and means for depositing sheets on said second delivery platform or permitting conveyance of sheets to said first delivery platform according to the desire of the press operator, said last-mentioned means comprising a cam for opening said grippers, traveling tapes adapted to occupy a position over said second platform to support sheets in their passage thereover, and connections enabling said cam and tapes to be placed into or out of operative position for depositing sheets on said second platform.

3. In a machine of the class described, a sheet conveyor comprising a plurality of sets of sheet grippers, a first delivery platform, means for opening said grippers to deposit sheets on said first delivery platform, a second deliveryplatform, and means for depositing sheets on said second delivery platform or permitting conveyance of said sheets to said first delivery platform according to the desire of the press operator, said last- -mentioned means comprising a cam for opening said grippers, fingers for stripping sheets from said grippers, tapes adapted to occupy a position over said second platform to support sheets in their passage thereover, and a hand lever operatively connected to said cam, fingers and tapes for manually placing the same into and out of position for depositing sheets on said second plat- .form.

4. In a machine of the class described, a sheet conveyor having upper and lower horizontal paths of travel, said conveyor comprising a plurality of sets of sheet grippers, a first delivery platform, means associated with said upper path for opening said grippers to deposit sheets on said first delivery platform, a second delivery platform, and means associated with said lower path for depositing sheets on said second delivery platform or permitting conveyance of sheets to said upper path according to the desire of the press operator, said last mentioned means comprising a cam for opening said grippers, fingers for stripping sheets from said grippers, tapes adapted to occupy a position over said second platform to support sheets in their passage thereover, and connections enabling said cam, fingers, and tap-es to be placed into or out of operative condition simultaneously.

5. In a machine of the class described, a sheet conveyor having upper and lower horizontal paths of travel, said conveyor comprising a plurality of sets of sheet grippers, a first delivery platform, means associated with said upper path for opening said grippers to deposit sheets on said first delivery platform, a second delivery platform, and means associated with said lower path for depositing sheets on said second delivery platform or permitting conveyance of sheets to said upper path according to the desire of the press operator, said last mentioned means comprising a cam for opening said grippers, fingers for stripping sheets from said grippers, tapes adapted to occupy a position over said second platform to support sheets in their passage thereover, and a hand lever operatively connected to said cam, fingers and tapes for manually placing the same into and out of position for depositing sheets on said second platform.

ARTHUR B. WOODRUFF. 

